Revealed: Why Obasanjo Lost The Opportunity To Become UN Secretary-General

Former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has shared insights into how former President Olusegun Obasanjo missed the opportunity to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations…CONTINUE READING

He made these remarks during the public presentation of the biography of the first African UN Secretary-General, the late Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

Boutros-Ghali took office in 1991 but served only one term until 1996. Gambari explained that Obasanjo’s military background worked against him in the selection process, particularly concerning countries with veto power.

Discussing the events that led to the choice of Boutros-Ghali as UN Secretary-General in 1991, Gambari recalled that some envoys informed him that “Your candidate (Olusegun Obasanjo) has no chance in hell of becoming secretary.”

Gambari further elaborated, “I asked: ‘What do you mean? He is the most qualified former head of state, handed over power voluntarily to civilians, and was the head of the group that led to the process of the end of apartheid.’

He was told, “No. Listen carefully, when we, the big countries, are searching for a Secretary-General, the emphasis is on the secretary and not on the general.” He stressed the significance of this statement.

The reasoning was that the countries with veto power desired a Secretary-General whom they could influence, rather than a military general who might issue commands. Sometimes, the appointing parties believed they were selecting a secretary but ended up with someone more assertive, a “general.

” Boutros-Ghali, initially perceived as a secretary, turned out to be a formidable leader, and the same was true for Kofi Annan, who was initially considered a secretary but displayed strong leadership qualities.